Blog

Morson Employee’s #PressForProgress This International Women’s Day

Rebekah Valero-LeeMar 08, 2018engineering

To celebrate International Women’s Day 18 we spoke to several women in our organisation, from a range of disciplines and job roles, about their careers, challenges and proudest achievements. Each interviewee made a personal pledge about how they will #pressforprogress to actively promote women and girls over the coming year.

Becky Veal, Head of Department

Having joined Morson Projects just over two years ago, I am responsible for the business activity within the southwest, based at Morson Projects Yeovil office. Overseeing key accounts such as Prime Supplier to Leonardo Helicopters Customer Support and Services division.

I hold 15+ years’ experience in the recruitment, engineering and technical publications field. Experience includes Managing Director for Polysource Global a recruitment company, and Programmes Director at Milsom Industrial Designs Ltd, overseeing 4 offices in the Southwest with 200+ contractors running offload packages of work for Leonardo Helicopters and other key clients.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

Building from scratch and overseeing an engineering recruitment business. This was certainly a huge learning curve which gave me exposure to many new arenas of running a business.

How are you going to #PressForProgress?

I believe it is important we nurture confidence in girls from a young age, as often they are underestimated by others and start to underestimate themselves which can erode their confidence. My pledge as a woman is to promote speaking confidently, take risks, and own our accomplishments, through these actions we will set positive examples for both woman & girls to follow.

Ana Miletic, Process Project Engineer

I am process/project engineer dealing with multidisciplinary vendor packages; I am currently working on an energy from waste plant. My role involves producing technical specifications, preforming technical bid evaluations and selecting vendors based on multidisciplinary requirements. Further to this, I am responsible for coordinating design activities in a multi discipline environment (Mechanical, Process, Electrical, 3D Plant, Stress, Control and Instrumentation) and reviewing vendor documentation and design.

Until now I have lived and worked in 4 different countries and speak fluently in 4 languages; Serbian (mother tongue), German, Norwegian, English. I started my career in the oil and gas industry and transferred to renewable energy.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

New environment, new language, new country… just to name a few. One of the biggest was when I moved to Norway with a 9 month old baby to start new job. I had signed a contract and a day before I was due to start they phoned me up to let me know the project had been put on hold, and I wouldn’t be needed the next morning. It took lots of courage to stay positive, look forward and face new challenges and opportunities.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

I am proud to be where I am now and do the job I am doing. As I was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia I grew up with sanctions, visas and air strikes and it was hard work. It has taken good University knowledge and lot of strength and belief to come to this point – I can proudly stand up for women in engineering and explain you can do whatever you want – just follow your dreams and believe in yourself and never give up.

How are you going to #PressForProgress?

Do what you love to do and be the best version of yourself – everyone will recognise and appreciate that. I am also hoping to be a role model to other women and I am actively involved in Women in engineering actions, and through Morson I am working with schools to promote Women in STEM.

Leanne Worrall, Bid Manager

I started with Morson Projects over 11 years ago, originally supporting the Project Management department. After a couple of months I moved into the Business Development department as a Bid Administrator supporting with the production of PQQ’s and bids. The company sponsored me through a degree in Business Management and using this knowledge I worked my way up to my current role of Bid Manager looking after in excess of 500 bids each year.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

The biggest challenge I have faced is working within an engineering environment with little engineering or technical knowledge.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement would be starting from the bottom and working my way up to becoming the bid manager for Morson Projects, being respected as an equal even without having much engineering knowledge.

How are you going to #PressForProgress?

I aim to remove barriers for women in the workplace by being a champion of other women and celebrating their individual or collective successes

Marie Wright, Financial Director

I lead our finance team in supporting the business to maximise financial performance, minimise financial risks, and meet financial obligations. We achieve this by working with our engineering departments and support colleagues using tailored controls, systems and reports.

My finance career began with training to be a Chartered Certified Accountant, then I climbed the career ladder through financial roles in a variety of industries and business classes. It has been an adventurous climb, with challenging ups and downs along the way, often fun and ultimately rewarding.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

Juggling work and motherhood, I have had to push for flexible working options that have allowed me to progress my career whilst successfully raising two children into their teens, a significant challenge given that my eldest is autistic.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

I have mentored several trainees, mostly women, who are now qualified accountants with brilliant careers.

How are you going to #PressForProgress?

I aim to remove barriers for women in the workplace by being a champion of other women and celebrating their individual or collective successes

Sophie Williams, Commercial Manager

As the Commercial Manager at Morson Projects I’m responsible for all commercial activities for the company. I manage a team of 5 individuals and my role includes overseeing day-to-day operations and focusing on the long-term interests of the business ensuring profit margins are met or exceeded for all departments. I started my career as an Operations Support Officer assisting the Operations Manager with HR duties, office management and purchasing. I then progressed through the company to a Project Support Role and Project Support Manager.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

Sometimes age has impacted the viewpoints of others on my capabilities – I believe age is not a concern as at any age you can demonstrate your capabilities in your day to day tasks and this is what you should be assessed on.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Studying whilst working full time – managing to fulfill my work commitments as well as undertaking an MSc/MBA and maintaining my sanity!

How are you going to #PressForProgress?

I try to encourage the women I manage to excel in their careers and fulfill their potential. I believe that it is not only my personal ambitions that are important but also those of other women – it prompts succession planning and demonstrates support for females in the workplace.

Alison Charles, Pipe Stress Engineer

During my employment at Morson Projects I have worked on various projects in the aerospace, nuclear and civil engineering sectors. My current role as a Pipe Stress Engineer involves calculating local stresses in a pipeline in order to define or approve the required pipe specifications, determine support types, and to ensure that any connecting equipment is able to withstand the effects of the piping forces and moments.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

In my experience I haven’t felt any additional challenges or pressures purely due to being a female in a male-dominated working environment. I look to my male colleagues for advice and support on a daily basis and they are always willing to help. I understand why women who don’t work in a male-dominated environment would ask the question. However, due to the career path that I chose – studying Maths, Physics and IT at A-Level, and then going on to study a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering – I have been studying/working in male-dominated environments for a long time. I think it’s important that people these days understand that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to being a minority in the office – many people in that office will share similar interests due to their line of work, and it is especially important that women aren’t put off engineering by assuming the working environment would be inferior to any other office job.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

My greatest personal achievement is running the London Marathon. I dedicated months to researching, planning and training in order to be able to make the most of the experience on the day.

How are you going to #PressForProgress?

I currently volunteer with the Girl Guides in the hope that I can engage their interest in STEM subjects through the different activities we run and also to encourage the girls to be confident and ambitious in whatever takes their interest.

Follow @MorsonGroup on Twitter to get involved with #pressforprogress and keep up to date with our diversity and inclusion activities. Join our Women in Industry on LinkedIn and become part of the group to share knowledge, inspire change and shout about success.